Quote:
Originally Posted by tawnos23
Actually, it means the kit will still cost the same. The cRIO is an expensive product, and I believe that NI is donating somewhere around $10 million to FIRST to allow them to use the cRIOs and still keep costs down.
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Ignoring any other changes -- registration for veteran teams should be reduced in 2010 and beyond. The fee was raised $1,000 when FIRST began allowing teams to keep their IFI control systems each year. If we are not going to be provided a new control system each year, that fee increase should be repealed. If registration remains the same, veteran teams are getting less value in future seasons than they have in the past. I don't particularly care how expensive the NI control system is -- that is FIRST's concern. My team's concern is that our considerable expense provides good value.
That we're not receiving a new control system each year, irrespective of how powerful or cool the NI system may be, represents decreased value for the registration we currently pay. Actually, it represents additional expenses for our team to maintain the same level of development and outreach. I am surprised there hasn't been more discussion about how this new system will affect registration fees in the future.